The FDA has approved tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah — Novartis), an individualized, genetically-modified cellular product, for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients ≤25 years old. The patient's own T cells are genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and then reinfused. Kymriah is the first CAR T-cell immunotherapy to become available in the US. A CAR T-cell product for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is expected to be approved soon.

The oral cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib (Verzenio – Lilly), which was approved by the FDA in 2017 for treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, has now been approved for use in combination with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for adjuvant treatment of patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence and a Ki-67 score ≥20%.

The investigational anti-complement component 5a (C5a) antibody vilobelimab (Gohibic – InflaRx) has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for IV treatment of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 beginning within 48 hours after invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is started. Vilobelimab is the first anti-C5a antibody to become available in the US.

Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy – Genentech), a CD79b-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP) for first-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS), or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) in adults who have an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score ≥2. The drug was previously approved for use in combination with bendamustine and rituximab for treatment of patients with relapsed or refactory DLBCL,...

Elranatamab-bcmm (Elrexfio – Pfizer), a bispecific B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CD3 T-cell engager, has been granted accelerated approval by the FDA for treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in adults who received ≥4 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Accelerated approval was based on the response rate and durability of response. Elranatamab is the second bispecific BCMA-directed CD3 T-cell engager to be approved for this indication; teclistamab (Tecvayli) was the...

Lazertinib (Lazcluze – Janssen Biotech), an oral kinase inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with the EGFR-MET bispecific antibody amivantamab (Rybrevant) for first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations. This is the first approval for Lazcluze; amivantamab was previously approved for use alone and in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed for treatment of NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion...

The FDA has approved ensartinib (Ensacove – Xcovery), an oral kinase inhibitor, for treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive, locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults who have not previously received an ALK inhibitor (e.g, crizotinib [Xalkori], certinib [Zykadia], alectinib [Alecensa], brigatinib [Alunbrig], lorlatinib [Lorbrena]). All previously approved ALK inhibitors are also approved for first-line use.

Eszopiclone (Lunesta - Sepracor), a benzodiazepine-like drug, has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of insomnia. It is the S-isomer of zopiclone (Imovane, and others in Canada), which has been available in other countries for almost 20 years. Unlike similar drugs such as zolpidem (Ambien) or zaleplon (Sonata), Lunesta is not being restricted in its labeling to short-term use. Like other hypnotics, eszopiclone is a schedule IV drug.

Advertisements for atorvastatin (Lipitor), the market leader facing generic competition, have been in the news recently in the US. Lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin are all available generically at a much lower retail price or lower co-pay than atorvastatin.

The goal of asthma treatment is to control symptoms, prevent exacerbations, and maintain normal lung function. Management of acute exacerbations in the emergency department is not discussed here.